Tuesday 29th September

Daniel 2 vs 34

“A rock was cut out, but not by human hands”
 
This year I received cards for both Father’s Day and my birthday with a ‘Boris’ theme. In summary, ‘Don’t go out. Do go out!’ We’ve all heard this sort of mocking humour about our prime minister over these Covid-19 months. It probably goes with the territory if you are the PM. However, we might do better to pray with the apostle Paul for “kings and ALL those in authority” (1 Tim.2:2). Leadership is never easy!
 
Yesterday we met an ancient leader.  The 6th century BC, king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. He wasn’t finding his job that easy either. He was suffering sleepless nights and all because he was having strange dreams. The trouble was that he didn’t seem able to remember what they were, and his wise men were mystified.
 
Enter Daniel. This wise man of God prayed with his friends and then gave the content and meaning of the dream (Dan.2:31-35). The king saw a giant statue with body parts of gold, silver, bronze and iron giving way to feet which were a mixture of iron and clay. The meaning? The gold head was the empire of Babylon which would give way to three more empires. The image of the fourth kingdom showed it to be very strong but brittle. It spoke of the mighty Roman Empire. This in turn would also fall but amazingly by being hit in its feet by a small insignificant rock and then blown away by the wind. Equally amazing, the rock grew into a mountain which eventually filled the whole world. What was this about? How should it encourage us in these days?
 
The ‘Rock’ smashed into the Roman Empire at Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, born not of human means but by the Spirit of God. He was crushed on a cross by both Roman and Jewish leaders, apparently a lost cause. Yet within a couple of centuries the empire that crucified Him bowed before Him as Lord. Ever since, His kingdom has flooded the nations and is bigger than ever. The “huge mountain” is still growing and “filling the whole earth” (Dan.2:35).
 
Every day we see images of empire on our TV screens. Whether they are political, economic, the mighty media, the super-rich, we need to see them in the light of Daniel 2. Are they where the real power lies? What have we seen over the last seven months? That they not only have feet of clay, they are feet of clay! There is only one power who holds global and eternal significance. He is the Rock not cut out by human hands. He is Jesus. In the midst of our present global disaster when the mighty men and women of the nations seem to be a bit mystified like Nebuchadnezzar, look to the Rock, trust Him with your life, your circumstances, your eternal future. He will not let you down.